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Symphyotrichum

Symphyotrichoid Asters in the restricted sense

Symphyotrichum Nees in the narrow sense includes all the many x=8, 7, 6, 5 and 4 species of asters native to North America (Semple et al. 2002). Several species are naturalized in Europe (S. lanceolatum, S. novi-belgii). Neither of these has glandular phyllaries. Species are distinguished on the basis of differences in habit, leaf shape and bases, involucre size, phyllary shape and chlorophyllous zone pattern, and fruit traits. Semple and Hood (2005) described the details of pappus variation in the genus. Brouillet et al. (2006 FNA) covered 77 of the ca. 90 species in the genus.